Kennedy University Hospitals Earn ‘A’s’ for Patient Safety Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
Monday, October 31, 2016
Voorhees, NJ, October 31, 2016 – Kennedy University Hospital’s three locations - Cherry Hill, Stratford, and Washington Township, NJ – have again each been honored with an “A” grade in the Fall 2016 Hospital Safety Grade, which rates how well U.S. hospitals protect patients from preventable medical errors, injuries and infections.
An announcement this week by independent hospital watchdog The Leapfrog Group – which administers the Hospital Safety Grade – showed Kennedy among only 844 U.S. hospitals to receive an “A” rating, ranking among the safest hospitals in the nation. This marks the fifth consecutive time Kennedy’s hospitals have each earned an “A” rating in the Leapfrog safety report.
“Protecting patients from harm is the most important charge for any hospital,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We recognize and appreciate ‘A’ hospitals’ vigilance and continued dedication to keeping their patients safe.”
Dr. David Condoluci, Kennedy Health’s Chief Patient Safety & Quality Officer, said the healthcare organization’s “A” grades in this elite national ratings program “recognizes our continued, strong commitment to patient safety, which is Kennedy’s top priority as a health care institution.”
Kennedy President & CEO Joseph W. Devine, FACHE, added that the 607-bed acute care hospital system is “extremely proud our three hospitals have again been recognized for their commitment to patient safety with ‘A’ grades in this highly respected national rating.” Developed under the guidance of an expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice annually. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
To see Kennedy University Hospitals’ full grade, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe if in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org or follow The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade on Twitter or Facebook. Consumers can also download the free Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade mobile app for Apple and Android devices. # # #
About Kennedy: Kennedy is a health services delivery system serving southern New Jersey. Kennedy meets the community’s healthcare needs at its hospital campuses in Cherry Hill, Stratford and Washington Township, NJ, and at outpatient facilities and medical practices throughout Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington counties. Kennedy has more than 4,600 associates and over 900 Medical Staff members. Kennedy is a three-time “Top Workplaces” winner via Philly.com. Kennedy University Hospital is the primary teaching hospital of the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM). Kennedy is also a member of the Jefferson Neuroscience Network (JNN) and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Network at Jefferson. For more information, visit www.kennedyhealth.org
About The Leapfrog Group: Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections